The famous sayings about sacrificing life for righteousness include:

1. Live as a hero, and die as a ghost. ——"Summer Quatrains" by Li Qingzhao of the Song Dynasty

Translation: When you are alive, you must be a hero among men, and when you die, you must be a hero among ghosts.

2. Since ancient times, no one has ever died, leaving a loyal heart to illuminate history. ——Wen Tianxiang of the Southern Song Dynasty, "Crossing the Lingding Ocean"

Translation: Who has been able to live forever since ancient times? I want to leave a piece of patriotic loyalty reflected in the annals of history.

3. Life is what I want; righteousness is also what I want; you cannot have both, and you must sacrifice life for righteousness. ——Warring States Period·Mencius "Fish I Want"

Translation: Life is what I love, and righteousness is also what I want. If I cannot have these two things at the same time, then I have to sacrifice my life. And choose righteousness.

4. Take justice and become benevolent. Today, flowers of freedom are planted all over the world. ——Modern·Chen Yi "Meiling Three Chapters (Part 3)"

Translation: If you sacrifice your life for a just cause today, the reactionaries will surely fail, and the ideal of freedom and happiness will surely be realized.

5. A person must have the courage to serve justice and seek truth. ——Wilson

6. It doesn’t matter if you behead, as long as the principle is true. Kill Xia Minghan and the people who came after him. ——Xia Minghan

7. When a person is determined to go to justice, then selling his head to the executioner will be worthwhile. ——Balzac

8. It doesn’t change to gouge out the heart or chop off the head. I only hope that the beautiful mountains and rivers will give me back my beautiful face.

——Rou Shi